2012 issue celebrates its 15-year anniversary with a how-to guide to horse shopping
Irvine, Calif., August 26, 2011 — Horses USA, the complete guide to buying and caring for a horse, provides tips on purchasing your first horse in its 15-year anniversary edition.
“Developing the skills to ride, handle and care for horses is a continuous learning process, but a solid foundation is absolutely essential. For 15 years, we’ve been helping new horse owners get started on the right hoof,” said Horses USA Editor Elizabeth Moyer.
Points to consider before buying a horse include:
Can you provide a proper home? – Horses need safe and appropriate housing, so owners must decide whether to use a boarding stable or setting up horsekeeping on their own property.
Have you explored the less glamorous aspects of horse care? –For every hour spent in the saddle, there are probably two or three devoted to taking care of your mount, and more if you are maintaining horse property – and these chores don’t take weekends and holidays off. If you’re new to horse ownership and care, it’s important to understand what’s involved.
Can you really afford a horse? – In addition to budgeting for routine expenses such as feed and farrier care, first-time horse owners need to be prepared for the costs of unexpected veterinary visits, miscellaneous horse care supplies and more. New horse owners will need to get outfitted with basic tack and equipment, adding to start-up costs. Riding instruction should also be considered a smart investment to get off to a good start with a new equine partner.
Do you have time for this? – Horse ownership is time consuming. Potential horse owners should consider how they can manage the demands of a job, family, friends and finances and still be a great horse owner.
The complete article on buying your first horse, titled “Shop Right – A How-to Guide for Horse Shoppers” is part of Horses USA’s 15-year anniversary issue. To read the full article, pick up the 2012 edition of Horses USA, on newsstands or online at http://www.HorseChannel.com/HorseUSA2012 beginning August 23, 2011.
Horses USA is produced by the editors of Horse Illustrated® magazine (http://www.horseillustrated.com/) and Horsechannel.com (http://horsechannel.com/). Horse Illustrated is the largest all-breed, all-discipline horse magazine and has been published for over 35 years. HorseChannel.com is an online community where horse lovers come for reliable information in an interactive, educational and entertaining environment.
For questions about the magazine, contact Lisa MacDonald, marketing director, at 949-855-8822, ext. 3345.
